Information recording medium, information recording device and method, information reproduction device and method, information recording/reproduction device and method, computer program, and data structure

Abstract

In an information recording medium, the position of each bit in the bit arrangement (800b) consisting of a plurality of bits is related to each channel corresponding to the position of each speaker in the speaker arrangement (800a) consisting of a plurality of speakers. By the value of each bit, the channel assignment information (800I) is recorded to indicate whether audio data of a corresponding channel is present. Moreover, a plurality of audio data whose presence is indicated by the channel assignment information is recorded for each channel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to information record media such as optical discs relating to recording or reproducing multi-channel audio data, relates to information record apparatuses and methods, relates to information reproduction apparatuses and methods, relates to information record reproduction apparatuses and methods, and relates to data structures. BACKGROUND ART [0002] There are various types of multi-channel audio data, such as 2 channels , 3 channels, 4 channels, 5 channels, and 5.1 channels for a general use. Further multi-channel audio data such as more channels are also presented for a theater use or a movie theater use. [0003] In a conventional DVD, for example, based on a DVD audio standard as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-11546, it is possible to record such multi-channel audio data. For example, it is possible to record Lf (Left Front) channel audio data for a left front speaker, Rf (Right Front) channel audio da...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention has been accomplished in view of above problems for example, and aims to provide an information record medium, as well as an information record apparatus and method, showing good flexibility in kinds of speaker arrangements capable of being handled, and capable of recording multi-channel audio data, and provide an information reproduction apparatus and method capable of reproducing such multi-channel audio data, and provide an information record reproduction apparatus capable of recording and reproducing such multi-channel audio data, and provide a computer program for control purpose to make a computer function as the information record apparatus, the information reproduction apparatus or the information record reproduction apparatus, and provide a data structure including a control signal capable of recording multi-channel audio data.

[0025] At least part of the generating device, the first recording device, the second recording device, the reading device, the identifying device and the reproducing device may be embodied relatively easily, by reading and running the computer program product from a record medium, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk and so on, storing the computer program therein / thereon, or by downloading the computer program product as a carrier wave to the computer via the communication device and running it. More specifically, the computer program product may be made of codes (or instructions readable by a computer) to make the computer function as at least one of the generating device, the first recording device, the second recording device, the reading device, the identifying device and the reproducing device.

Problems solved by technology

For this, it is impossible to record or reproduce multi-channel audio data corresponding to a speaker arrangement different from a speaker arrangement defined as a format standard.

In the conventional DVD mentioned above, it is impossible to record multi-channel audio data corresponding to such a three dimensional (3D) speaker arrangement or complicated two dimensional (2D) speaker arrangement.

Nevertheless, it is very difficult in practice, because the channel assignment modes, which exponentially increase, must be defined in advance in order to handle completely the variety of speaker arrangements.

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